Three weeks. Three long weeks. Haley and Nathan hadn't spoken or seen each other.

Nathan focused on basketball, where as Haley focused on her music. She started hanging out a lot with Chris, and she actually genuinely enjoyed his company. She hadn't gotten over Nathan. She didn't think she ever would, but she was slowly losing respect for him. School had started a few days ago, and neither of them had classes together. She found out he had been bullying a freshman, and even cheated on a quiz. He hung out with seniors, and skipped a few classes. She didn't know who he was anymore and it was really sad.

There was nothing she could do about it. She didn't bother wasting time trying to change his ways, and she stopped pining over him. That would do nothing- it wouldn't bring the old Nathan back. He'd have to learn to do that on his own. He'd come back eventually, and until then, she'd secretly wait for him.

As far as Nathan was concerned, he knew he messed up. He was ashamed, and embarrassed, but he knew no apology would ever excuse his outlandish behavior. He thought it would be best if he let time pass, and maybe he'd try again.

However, today would be the day they'd come face to face again, and he was worried. His mother was having a small birthday party, and of course she had invited the James family. No one was really aware of the fall out between Nathan and Haley. It's not like they hated each other, they just were slowly growing apart, and neither of them were really ready to admit it- in some ways, the "fight" was inevitable. Maybe it was supposed to happen… at least that's what Haley told herself.

"You're wearing that to your boyfriend's house?" Taylor James interjected snobbishly as she walked into Haley's room while she was standing in front of the mirror getting ready for the party.

Haley's brown eyes narrowed as they caught the reflection of Taylor's light green eyes.

"First of all, Nathan's not my boyfriend, and secondly, yes, I'm wearing this. Do you have a problem with it?" Haley scoffed.

"Well obviously Nathan's not your boyfriend considering you dress like that." Taylor snickered, eyeing Haley's outfit which consisted of a ratty old red tank top, and black denim shorts.

"Whatever, I don't really care." Haley dismissed- she was used to Taylor's constant heckling.

Taylor pursed her lips slightly together as she leaned against the door frame, crossing her arms over her chest. "Something's wrong."

Haley turned slightly, "What? No." She denied quickly.

"Mhmm. Nathan hasn't been here in like forever, and you haven't really left the house unless you have school. What's going on? You two were like inseparable…"

Haley remained stone faced, "It's none of your business, Tay. Besides, nothing's going on."

"Bullshit, Hales." Taylor said bluntly. "Are you in a fight or something?"

Haley rolled her eyes, "No, Taylor. We're just busy. I don't have to see him every day, it's not like he's my bodyguard or something." She said bitterly.

Taylor chuckled loudly, "Whoa, sis. Someone seems angry."

"It's nothing, just please leave." Haley begged. Taylor smirked softly, swiveled on her heel, then walked out of Haley's room, only to return a minute later with an emerald green sundress.

"Wear that. Green always looked good on you." She mumbled softly, and Haley was about to protest as Taylor threw the dress across Haley's bed, and gave her a small hint of a smile.

"I know... you don't want to change in order to impress Nate, but just… wear that, okay? A little change can sometimes be good."

Whoever thought Taylor James could have a heart?

"You haven't seen Haley in a while." Deb pointed out as she walked into the kitchen where Nathan was sitting at the counter gulping down a slice of pizza.

"I've been busy." He mumbled as he was chewing.

"Oh Nate, honey, that's gross. Don't chew with your mouth open, you'll never get Haley to like you-"

"Ma!" Nathan groaned as he swallowed an enormous amount of cheese. "I don't want Haley to like me. For the last time, we're just friends."

Deb rolled her eyes, "Yeah, okay, whatever."

"It's true!" Nathan squeaked as his voice cracked at the end, resulting in a small blush upon his cheeks.

"Well her and her parents will be driving all the way from Tree Hill to Charlotte today so make sure you make time to see them, please." The middle aged mom requested with a hopeful smile.

Nathan simply rolled his eyes in response, "Yeah, okay, whatever." He mocked quietly behind his mother's back as Deb turned slightly and glared over at her son.

Ugh, teenagers.

Suddenly there was a faint chime that sounded through the walls of Deb's apartment, causing her to squeal with excitement as she ran over to the front door and greeted her first guests- The James family.

Nathan took a steady breath in order to calm his erratic heart rate when he heard his mother great Haley and her parents.

A few seconds later, Haley slowly walked into the kitchen purposely avoiding Nathan's smoldering stare. Thankfully, his cell phone started vibrating against the counter signaling that someone was trying to call him. In order to avoid the awkward tension lingering in the atmosphere, he quickly picked it up and acted as if Haley weren't even in the room.

"Oh hey Cara. What's up?...Not much…Yeah I miss you too…"

"Nathan Scott! We have guests! Don't be rude. Hang up now." Deb demanded as she waltzed into the kitchen with Lydia and Jimmy following closely behind.

Nathan discreetly rolled his eyes, "Yeah I gotta go. See ya…" He mumbled into the phone, then quickly hung it up as he slid it into his back pocket and gave a small smile at Haley's parents. In the corner of his eye he could see Haley fiddling with her pinky ring- a sure tell sign that she was nervous.

"Hi Nathan, how've you been?" Jimmy asked with a friendly smile at the blue eyed boy across from him.

"Good, busy, but good."

"Yeah, we haven't seen you much lately." Lydia spoke up with a small frown, as Haley cut her eyes across at her mother.

"That's because Nathan is grounded." Deb said sternly. "His father doesn't seem to care that he was drinking, and stole the car keys and drove without a license, but I care... and when I found out about that I nearly killed him, so while he stays with me he's grounded and not allowed out."

Lydia's eyes widened, "You drove?" She asked slightly shocked. The Nathan she knew would never do anything like that.

"Yeah, it wasn't a big deal." Nathan muttered with a small shrug.

"It was too a big deal. This is why Dan raising him isn't a good idea-" Deb revealed nervously.

"Whatever Mom." Nathan snapped. "I really don't think a druggie raising me is the best idea either."

The adults eyes widened at the venomous tone laced through the teen's voice.

"Nathan!" Deb scolded.

Nathan pretended to ignore his mother's scolds and hopped off of the stool he was seated on. "I'll be in the den if anyone needs me. Hopefully you don't.." He mumbled then disappeared down the hall, leaving four awestruck people behind.

Deb sighed tiredly as she ran a hand through her blonde hair. "I'm sorry. I really don't know what has gotten into him lately. I think the divorce is really getting to him. He only comes up to Charlotte on weekends. God only knows what Dan does to him during the week."

Haley chewed softly on her lower lip as she intently listened in on the conversation. She knew Nathan had changed. Perhaps it was due to the divorce, or maybe the pressure his father put on him, but she knew whatever happened at High Flyers had a huge role in his sudden change.

"Did you ever try bringing him to a therapist?" Lydia questioned softly.

Deb frowned, "Yeah, but I don't know if that would help." The middle aged mom then turned toward Haley with a hopeful smile. "I was hoping maybe you could talk to him?"

Haley's brown eyes widened. What could she possibly say to Nathan? It seemed that he was irreversible.

"Uh… Deb. I don't know-" Haley stuttered nervously. "I really don't know what I'd say-"

"You're his best friend Haley. You know him better than anyone. He's always had a soft spot for you. There's got to be something you could say-" Deb pleaded with soft golden brown eyes.

Haley exhaled deeply, and after a few seconds of mulling it over in her mind, she agreed with a light smile. "I'll try my best." Then slowly retreated down the hall to find Nathan in the den in the middle of playing xbox.

"Oh hey." He muttered, sensing her presence but not even bothering to make eye contact.

Haley let out another loud sigh. This was not the way things were supposed to be, but she didn't even seem to have a choice.

"Hey." Haley said shakily. She was still pissed about what happened the last time she saw him, and she had no intentions of forgiving him, but it seemed as though Nathan had no intention of apologizing.

Figures.

"'Sup?" He asked hardly even interested considering he was too focused on his NBA Live game, one that Haley couldn't help but remember he would always try and teach her to play.

"Nothing much." She answered with just as much interest as he had asked the question.

A few minutes of awkward silence passed between them as Haley watched Nathan play inanimate basketball upon his television screen.

She knew Deb wanted her to talk to him, but she really had no idea what to say or how to say it. They weren't exactly on the best of terms right now, and neither of them really seemed to want to change that.

"Nathan…" Haley began softly. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Why?" He snapped harshly as he continued staring intently at the screen in front of him.

"It's just… your mom wanted me to make sure-"

Nathan suddenly paused his game, and slammed the controller against the floor. "If my mom wanted to talk to me, she could ask herself." He shouted angrily.

Haley's eyes widened, "Okay." She answered meekly.

Nathan sighed as he dragged his hand through his raven black hair, "Sorry." He then let his eyes linger softly on her for the first time. "Is that new?" He asked with a softer tone noticing Haley's dress.

Haley felt her cheeks twinge a light shade of red. She then chastised herself for becoming excited over the fact he noticed something about her.

"Yeah. Taylor gave it to me."

His eyebrows narrowed, "I don't really like it. You never wear dresses."

"Yeah well I do now." She snapped angrily as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Nathan's features softened, "Haley-"

"Save it Nathan. I really am not in the mood for another one of your apologies." She said bitterly.

Nathan stood up from the couch and turned more towards Haley.

"What do you want from me? I'm sorry if you don't like who I am anymore, but I can't be the kid you met in pre-school. I've grown up Hales." Nathan explained somberly.

Haley meekly nodded in understanding, "I can see that."

"Look, why don't we just like watch a movie or something? It'll be like old times." Nathan suggested with a soft smile.

Only it wasn't like old times. It was far from it, and both of them know that.

Nathan and Haley normally would sit cuddled up next to each other as they watched the movie, but this time they sat at opposite ends of the couch and hardly talked the entire evening.

Even if they pretended everything would be okay, they knew there was no going back.

A few days had passed since Nathan and Haley's awkward reunion, and neither of them had bothered trying to contact each other- even if they did, they were both so busy they'd barely have time to speak.

It was nearing the end of the school day and Haley was just finishing gathering up her books from her locker when she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned slightly and smiled at her dimply friend.

"Hey Brooke, what's up?" Haley greeted.

"Not much, are you going to the game tonight?" The bubbly brunette questioned with a hopeful grin.

"Uh no, I wasn't planning on it. Why?" Haley asked as she closed her locker door and grabbed her backpack off the floor.

"Well you've been so busy lately, so I was hoping we could spend time together. Have you been okay?"

Haley plastered a fake smile, "Yeah, just busy. Sorry." Which was the truth. She had to keep busy in order to keep her mind off of the whole Nathan situation.

"That's okay. So if you aren't busy you really should come tonight. Lucas is having a party afterwards and we can all hang out-"

"I don't think that's such a good idea." Haley said reluctantly as her gaze diverted over to where Nathan and his fellow teammates were gathered in the center of the gym hallway.

"Oh yeah. What happened with that?" Brooke whispered lightly.

"Long story. I just think it's best if I didn't go tonight. I don't think I can bare seeing him." Haley shared equally as quiet as Brooke hoping no one could hear their private conversation.

Brooke nodded in understanding and offered her friend a sympathetic smile. "Okay, well I'll call you after the game."

Haley smiled, "Okay, thanks." She finally separated from Brooke and was on her way from leaving the School when she felt Nathan's eyes on her. Looking quickly over at him, their eyes made contact for a split second before he broke the gaze.

Haley frowned.

That's the way things would be from now on.

It was almost eleven o'clock at night when Haley received the unexpected call.

She was just about to crawl under the covers and read a few pages of an old John Steinbeck novel when her phone started to ring on her night stand. Reaching over slightly, she let out a small yawn and gazed at the caller ID. It was Brooke. She knew she couldn't ignore it because Brooke was the type of person to keep calling until you answer, so Haley figured she might as well get it over with so she could continue her nightly routine.

"Hello?" Haley answered softly.

"Haley?" Brooke shouted with panic, making Haley's eyes widen in fear.

"Yeah? Is everything okay?"

"Have you heard from Nathan?" Brooke ignored Haley's question and asked a new one.

Haley ran a hand through her honey blonde hair and inhaled a shaky breath. "Um no… why? Is everything okay?" She repeated a little more frightened now.

Haley heard Brooke breathe heavily on the phone…

"There's been an accident-"

Dun! Dun! Dun!

I know I suck! Sorry for the cliff hanger…

I usually hate those but I wanted to spice it up a little. I finally know what direction I'm going with this story and it's completely different than what I originally had planned but I think this new one is better. The ending is still the same though, but don't worry I can assure you it will be happy!

Thanks for reading and all the reviews.

I will have "Give Your Heart a Break" updated sometime this week for those who read that… and I'll hopefully have a new chapter for this sometime this week too. I finally sat down and planned it out, so yay!